One of the largest and most established non profit making organizations known as Family Health International (FHI) with very active participation in international public health and development towards improving lives, knowledge and understanding of people, in collaboration with Pharm Access Africa Limited (PAAL), distribution partners alongside line ministries and other stakeholders like UNFPA, the Pharmacy Board and Marie Stopes International-Sierra Leone on Thursday 7th October, 2010 launched a new low cost and high effective contraceptive sino-implant II called Zarin at the British Council Hall in Freetown. The theme of the launching ceremony was: "Recognize the Demand and Facilitate Increased Access to Contraceptive Implants."
The rational behind the launching of the Zarin contraceptive implant is the concerted recognition of the increasing demand of contraceptives, and to facilitate increased access to contraceptive implants in the country among others aimed at improving the quality of reproductive health services through safe, effective and affordable family planning methods
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| MSSL County Director Sebastien Barraud Speaking at the ceremony |
In his presentation, the Research Associate of Family Health International (FHI) Dr. David Asaute assured that Zarin contraceptive is an authentic product coming from Shanghai Dahua Pharmaceutical in China with product registration in Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Ethiopia and now in here in Sierra Leone meeting international standards. He disclosed that over seven million Zarin implants have been distributed world wide, and that over 15,000 (fifteen thousand) women are presently using the contraception. This Zarin application he went on, has especially in Kenya avoided unplanned pregnancy for over 1.8 million women. He said if accepted and appreciated in Sierra Leone Zarin would immensely help in promoting our economic growth and national development.
Giving his keynote address, the Director of Reproductive Health and Sanitation in the Health Ministry, Dr. SAS Kargbo confirmed that the low use of contraceptives by families has negative effects on women. He saiod it also negatively impacts on His Excellency President Ernest Koroma’s aim in achieving free health care services. He in that regard called on women and men who seem to have negative perception towards the use of contraceptives to use this opportunity to plan their families. According to him a slow population growth is the back bone of the development of any country, adding that family savings can also be increased with a decrease in the amount of children per family.
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| Dr Sarian Kamara Reproductive Health Manager MoHS Stakeholders at the Launching Ceremony |
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Newspaper in Freetown, Sierra Leone.
